New York, NY.  Urban Broadcasting Company, a Harlem NY-based broadcast multi-media company has signed national cable and satellite distribution deals to launch a new “Urban Lifestyle” cable network. -> Read more

Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it has added Long Beach, CA to its growing list of expansion teams for next season.  “Another great addition to the powerful Southern California Division,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO.  “Long Beach was a great ABA city prior to the team moving to Bakersfield CA and entering the NBA Development League.  And it will be again under the leadership of Tony Farmer and Giovanni Pierrce, both of whom have long and distinguished basket ball and business backgrounds – and excellent ABA experience too.” -> Read more

Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it has added a team in Orange County, CA to its fast-growing Southern California Division – the Orange County Novastars,  owned by Novastar Basketball Inc, under the leadership of Al Smith and Glenn Wilkerson.  “The SoCal Division is a very strong one with some of the highest ranked teams in the league playing there,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO.  “Al and Glenn both have great experience on and off the court and we anticipate another great organization there.” -> Read more

Jackson, MS.  The ABA Jackson Showboats expansion team that begins play in November welcomes former NFL wide receiver Brennan Marion to its staff as Director of Player Strength and Conditioning.  Brennan, a Virginia native, will work directly with the players in weight-lifting, plyometic and overall physical conditioning.  On the arrival of Brennan, team GM Grant Worsley said, “We are excited to have  Brennen as part of the Showboat family.  We look forward to his expertise in conditioning and strength science. His athletic skills and know-how will be a tremendous  benefit to our organization.:”

Brennan, who relocated to Jackson from LA, earned a Division 1 scholarship to the University of Tulsa, where in 2007 he set an NCAA record for most yards per catch.  After graduating in 2008 with a bachelor’s in sociology, he went on to sign in 2009 as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins.  “I look forward to helping the community of Jackson and helping players get to the next level,” said Brennan.  “I’m excited to be in Mississippi and start working with the Jackson Showboats.”

For more information, please call 601 630 6776 or email Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@jacksonshowboats.com or visit www.jacksonshowboats.comor www.abalive.com.

Indianapolis, IN.   The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com crowned a new champion on Sunday, April 15th at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL with a 100-91 win over the South Carolina Warriors.  The Giants captured the first two games of the best-of-three series to win the 2011-2012 ABA Championship.  Both games were close and the overall consensus of those attending was that these were the best two teams in the ABA.

“If anyone ever questioned the quality of ABA basketball, there questions were answered this week in St. Pete,” stated ABA President/COO Dick Packer.  “From the first games with the North Dallas Vandals,

San Diego Sol as well as the Warriors and Giants, fans got to see some exciting, fast-paced basketball played by highly skilled players.  Every game was exciting.  And when you add the All Star players who competed on Saturday, you know that the quality of talent extends far beyond the Final Four teams.  Our hats to off to all the players who competed – and of course to Ron Sholes, Kevin Waters, the Giants organization for winning the ABA Championship and also to the South Carolina Warriors for their runner-up effort.”

Complete details, scores and stats for the tournament can be found on www.abalive.com.

The All Tournament team included:

• Jermaine Bell, Jacksonville Giants   (named MVP)
• Sherrod Harris, Jacksonville Giants
• Lamar Sanders, Jacksonville Giants
• Marquis Gainous, South Carolina Warriors
• Tony White, Jr, South Carolina Warriors
• Sheldon Pace, San Diego Sol
• Will Haynes, North Dallas Vandals

For more information, visit www.aba.live.com

Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it will expand to Columbia SC next season with a new team to be owned by the husband and wife team of John Devin Lee and Nikia L. Knox-Lee. “I have long thought that Columbia would be a great ABA city and we have been looking for just the right owners to maximize the potential there – and in Devin and Nikia, I think we’ve found them,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO.  “We have many teams in North Carolina but only the #1 ranked South Carolina Warriors which will be competing for the ABA Championship next week in St Petersburg, FL. This will be a great fit.” -> Read more

Indianapolis. IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it would return to Fresno, CA next season after a five year hiatus.  “We are very pleased to be returning to Fresno,” stated ABA CEO Joe Newman.  “It was an excellent ABA city before and it will be again under the leadership of Oscar Robinson, a man with a love of basketball and a great flair for business and promotion. This should be one exciting team. -> Read more

Indianapolis, IN.  The ABA Bullies are Cowards program would like to announce its partnership with Focus Sports of Indianapolis as the sponsor and exclusive merchandize provider for the Bullies are Cowards program.  Bullies are Cowards is an ABA league-wide program supported by the 70+ ABA teams across the country.  The goal is to provide its unique program to the thousands of schools and organizations in every ABA city.  With the support and intervention program provided by the ABA, working with Focus Sports, the league hopes to reduce the incidence of physical, verbal, emotional, sexual and cyber bullying. -> Read more

Indianapolis, IN.  Three of the four teams that will compete in the Final Four ABA Championships beginning April 9th in St. Petersburg, FL were determined on Saturday with the North Dallas Vandals, San Diego Sol and South Carolina Warriors emerging as winners.  The fourth game will be played next Saturday in Chicago when the Jacksonville Giants face the Chicago Steam for the final slot.

• The San Diego Sol defeated the Bay Area Matrix, 113-86
• The North Dallas Vandals defeated the Conway Cyclones, 110-85
• The South Carolina Warriors defeated the Connecticut Topballerz, 136-81

San Diego will meet the winner of the Chicago/Jacksonville game in the opening round; South Carolina will meet North Dallas.  The brackets are posted on the ABA web site (www.abalive.com).

The ABA Final Four will be held at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg beginning Monday, April 9th with the ABA All Star game being held on Saturday, April 14th.  Tickets are on sale for both the Final Four Playoffs and the ABA All Star Game on www.abalive.com.  For more information, contact Dick Packer at dpacker@abalive.com or visit www.abalive.com.

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) – Basketball greats Julius Erving, Moses Malone and Artis Gilmore got their start with the red, white and blue ball in the American Basketball Association.

The Capital City is joining the legendary ABA league hoping to discover a new wave of stars with the Jackson Showboats.

The Showboats held their first open team tryouts on Saturday at the MBA in north Jackson.

More than 20 basketball stars from the Magnolia state and across the country laced up the shoes looking to impress the coaching staff for a spot on the team.

Showboats management feels Jackson is a perfect place for an ABA team.

For more info on the Showboats, visit their website: http://www.jacksonshowboats.com/

The Showboats will begin their inaugural seven month playing season in October.

Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it will return to Wilmington NC next season after a five year hiatus.  “We are very happy to be back in Wilmington,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO.  “The previous team there did very well prior to leaving for another league which did not work out for them.  We have wanted to return there for several years and have been looking for the right ownership group led by Trina McDonald.  She’s impressed us with her drive and energy thus far.”

The team will be  owned by Destiny Productions, LLC, and named the Carolina Destiny.  Ms. McDonald is a counselor who has recently been certified in the area of substance abuse counseling and currently works with a private agency in Wilmington as well as having a business that does assessments and provides human services in the area.  Rudy Jones will serve as General Manager of the team,

“We will be announcing our basketball operations and coaching staff on our website and the breakdown of the other staff positions on our website as well,” stated Ms. McDonald.  “We have a venue that we have worked out for our home games as well as a place to practice and team workouts.  We’ll be announcing tryouts shortly too.  So many things to do and to be done, but we have been meeting and forging ahead. We will make Wilmington and the ABA proud.”  For more information, email lifetinc@aol.com or visit www.abalive.com.  Team website to be announced shortly.

Click here for the latest PLAYOFF scores through Sunday March 18, 2012 -> Read more

Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced that it has added the Lakewood Panthers to the Pacific Northwest Division.  “One of our goals for next season was to fill out this division,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO.  We’ve recently announced Olympia WA and Yakima WA as well as a second team in Alaska.  And now we’re proud to add the Lakewood Panthers.  This will make the PacNW one of our strongest divisions – and we have a great new owner there too.

-> Read more

Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com today announced its 2011-12 ABA All Star Teams. For the first time ever, a professional sports league has created three separate teams which will compete against one another in a round robin tournament during the ABA Final Four Championship Playoffs.  “We’ve been watching the declining interest in All Star Games at the NBA, NFL and MLB level and decided to change formats,” stated Dick Packer, ABA President/COO.  “The three ABA All Star teams will play a round robin tournament for prize money which will give them added incentive to perform at peak level – it will be a winner take all format, the team winning two games will get the trophies and prize money.  Is this unusual? You bet…but innovation is the heart and soul of the ABA and we think the fans will enjoy the new All Star format.” -> Read more